Okay so I’m faced with a little dilemma…I plan on going into a science major (e.g. molecular biology, neuroscience, etc.) and I have an idea of the colleges I want to apply to that would require two teacher recommendations. However, none of my schools necessarily specify that one teacher MUST be math/science and the other should be humanities. Sooo I decided to ask my IB English teacher (10th and 12th) and my APUSH teacher (11th), both of whom were excited to write me my letters. These are the teachers who I feel know me the best but I am afraid that the absence of a math/science recommendation might hurt my chances, especially because of my prospective major goals…Are my fears correct? (Some schools I’m looking at–Harvard, Stanford, Pomona College, USC) And also, I have good relationships with all of my teachers because I did well in their classes and worked hard in all of them, but the teachers I chose would most likely write me the most high quality pieces of writing…
I think that it would have a very small effect. As long as you have shown that you are a strong math/science student (with maybe a related EC or two), then it is okay that neither of the recommenders is a math/science. Though it would have been stronger to choose an “English/History” and a “Math/Science”. It might seem odd to the colleges that you didn’t select one if it is A) related to your intended major and B) a strong point on your transcript. My .02
Well…I don’t know. I have gotten A’s in all of my classes so my math and science classes don’t necessarily prove to be a “stronger” point on my transcript per se. But does the fact that I’m president of Science Olympiad count as a related EC? (granted…I haven’t helped this club win medals or anything unfortunately–we’re not a school that’s strong in math/science AT ALL)
Would it really seem odd to colleges if I don’t choose, let’s say, my Biology teacher from freshman and senior year since I want to major in that area? Uh oh…
Not necessarily the strong point, just strong in general. Usually, you only choose junior and sometimes senior year teachers for recs. I believe that the Science Olympiad does show that you have an interest in the field, and being president shows some level of dedication. Winning something would really put it over the hill, but it’s a start. If none of your math/science teachers, in your opinion, know you well enough to write a good recommendation, you don’t need to change.